Discussion Fan Fic Pet Peeves?

You can always ask for a "beta" who won't pull punches if you want one. Just ask Deb (Obimom).

Actually, all fanfic authors, I've found that beta'ing others works really improves your "eye" as to your own stuff. If you have the time or inclination, I recommend it. We did have a thread once for people searching to beta or looking for beta's.

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Thanks I always thought getting a beta was for if you were looking to polish up a story for index submission and not so much for concrit and bouncing ideas around. I think when they restore all the content I might have to find one for my WIP.

For a moment, I thought I was in Lit and we were about to segue into a discussion about Karen Traviss.

Then, the conversation went more towards editing, and upon seeing the word "beta" being used as a verb, I knew I was back in the FFR.

There's a reason I try to avoid writing any major characters; I know for a fact that I will never get them "right". Hell, hardly any professional authors get the main characters "right"! So, I simply avoid the hassle. If I ever did write any of the main major characters, I would need to draft up bullet points so that way I can keep the core of their character relatively intact. Even then, there will be those who still argue that I can't get the character "right".

So, I just stick to more minor characters who have been screwed over by so many authors that their characterization had to be retconned with a mental illness. Much easier! Like working with a blank slate!

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I was just in the LIT forum and had to try really hard to avoid the Karen Traviss thread. No good can come from it.

It's not all that bad, really. One of the tamer discussions I've ever seen on the subject.

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That's because it really hasn't gotten going and the people who like Traviss such as myself have learned that it doesn't matter what you say it won't change the opinions of those who hate her work and dislike her as an author. Two years ago I used to talk till I was blue in the face but it got no where so I stopped and avoided the threads about the Republic Commando series or her other works in the EU.

What is interesting and pertains to the discussion we were having about characterization is how many feel she made Jedi really flawed and her characters not flawed at all as opinion-ed by her detractors. Where I think this is a good example of using a characters flaws to really show character motivation and draw you into the story. I think may of the characters walk that fine line that they were talking about earlier of making a character too flawed.

I actually have two beta's. One that just corrects my bed spelling and grammar, the other does that, and gives me pointers for the finer details of writing and characterizations. I like being able to turn to either, depending on what I want. It's useful when you write both short vignettes, and 50 k word epics.

I think character hating is more a pro-fic issue. In fanfic, you generally know who hates which character and whether or not the writer writes the character. Most will just avoid the character in general. But if the writer 'hates-on' the character, you can just stop reading (or join in on the fun if you dislike the character as well).

Character flaws and characterization in SW fanfic and profic is a tricky thing and a bad characterization or to little, or too many, character flaws can ruin a story. The worry can consume a writer. When I was plotting and doing characterizations for my first original piece, I started to worry that I had the characterization for my main character wrong. I then promptly stepped back and slapped myself. I sometimes have to say to myself "these are my MY characters, I am their GOD."

Mine just hates my laptop, and I honestly don't know why. The router is new and my laptop is only a year old. My old router was much worse though. Plus my internet is SOOO SLOW because I live in the middle of nowhere.

Another peeve: when it's painfully obvious that the author greatly dislikes one of the characters in his/her story.

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I am so guilty of this. I don't like Callista. I don't think I write Callista out of character, but she is never the hero in my stories. But I don't hide it. Usually in the plot summery I say, "This is just another one of my I HATE CALLISTA stories".

I have also been accused of writing Luke physically out of character. He is more muscular and handsome than Mark Hamill in my stories. He looks like the Luke on the Japanese book covers or like this:

Valairy ScotBackpacking One Pack a Day Mod of New FilmsStaff MemberManager

Registered:

Sep 16, 2005

I sometimes have to say to myself "these are my MY characters, I am their GOD."

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There's a sig for a fanfic author!

I have also been accused of writing Luke physically out of character. He is more muscular and handsome than Mark Hamill in my stories. He looks like the Luke on the Japanese book covers or like this:

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Out of sheer curiosity, why? Speaking for myself, I see and then adhere to the physical representation seen on screen. Where I take liberties is with the characterization of such minor characters that are mainly background - Reeft in the JA books, non-speaking members of the Council in the movies. The major characters, well, I "hear" these characters as portrayed by the actors in my head so I can't deviate much - which is good, because I can get the rhythm of their speaking and all that.

To a lesser degree, I can also "get" the written character as originally envisioned if that is somewhat different from the "movie" characterization. Ex.Obi-Wan: in novels he is often a bit more quiet, opinionated, studious than the Ewan Obi-Wan who by ROTS has this twinkle in his eye and is more personable than the book Obi-Wan. All this is minor degrees of difference, I must say, not major.

Another peeve: when it's painfully obvious that the author greatly dislikes one of the characters in his/her story.

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I am so guilty of this. I don't like Callista. I don't think I write Callista out of character, but she is never the hero in my stories. But I don't hide it. Usually in the plot summery I say, "This is just another one of my I HATE CALLISTA stories".

I have also been accused of writing Luke physically out of character. He is more muscular and handsome than Mark Hamill in my stories. He looks like the Luke on the Japanese book covers or like this:

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At least you try to write her so that she is in-character. I've stopped counting how many LotR-fics I've read in which Boromir was turned into a sexist rapist or Denethor into a wicked child-abuser. Or it can simply be a matter of a particular character always making the all the wrong choices or having all the wrong oppinions etc. so that everything the character says or does reflects negatively on him/her.

I must admit that your Luke is a bit to bulky for my taste. I certainly think that all active Jedi where physically fit, but I imagine their physique to more like that of football (or soccer for you americans) players.

I sometimes have to say to myself "these are my MY characters, I am their GOD."

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There's a sig for a fanfic author! .

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No, I think issues come about when fanfic authors think they are God. In Star Wars, Geoge Lucas is God, you are just borrowing his dolls (unless you mainly write OC's or minor characters, then you can be God).

For my physical characterizations I generally go from the actors if I am writing in or near the movie eras. For later stuff I go by the NJO Japanese book covers. Jedi_Lover: I don't think your ~10 ABY Luke is too, too buff. For that time I would still go by the actors in the movies, and Mark Hamill is a nice size in ESB. But I wouldn't have FOTJ era Luke that buff. Fit, yes, but not buff.

Although these characters ARE Jedi and humans in the GFFA don't age the same as on earth, you do have to take age in consideration when writing a well-known character (*cough* take note profic *cough*).

Another peeve: when it's painfully obvious that the author greatly dislikes one of the characters in his/her story.

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I am so guilty of this. I don't like Callista. I don't think I write Callista out of character, but she is never the hero in my stories. But I don't hide it. Usually in the plot summery I say, "This is just another one of my I HATE CALLISTA stories".

I have also been accused of writing Luke physically out of character. He is more muscular and handsome than Mark Hamill in my stories. He looks like the Luke on the Japanese book covers or like this:

At least you try to write her so that she is in-character. I've stopped counting how many LotR-fics I've read in which Boromir was turned into a sexist rapist or Denethor into a wicked child-abuser. Or it can simply be a matter of a particular character always making the all the wrong choices or having all the wrong oppinions etc. so that everything the character says or does reflects negatively on him/her.

I must admit that your Luke is a bit to bulky for my taste. I certainly think that all active Jedi where physically fit, but I imagine their physique to more like that of football (or soccer for you americans) players.

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I agree, Luke to me seems to have a toned physique, but certainly not too much like a weightlifter or Olympian type.

And Briannakin pointed out something as well. Just wanted to say I agree with that completely.

There are a couple reasons. First, I think there has been a changing taste in heroes. Today, in Hollywood, I really doubt we would have anybody as skinny as Mark Hamill be cast as the hero/possible love interest (as we believed he was in ANH). If you don't believe how skinny he can be just look at the sex scenes in Black Magic Woman (I remember some disturbing men's blue bikini underwear scene...I think). Second, he did bulk up a bit in ESB, but I would think a guy who is a Jedi would continue to work out throughout his life. If he bulked up during his short time with Yoda, I would think he would be very toned after years of tough Jedi training.

I really don't think that photoshopped pic of him is bulky. I think that is about right for somebody who leads a physical lifestyle. He doesn't need a Thor physique, but I think he definitely would have the muscle structure similar to the type Will Smith had in his action movies.

Briannakin -- well that pic represents that beach scene in my fanfic The Journal of Mark Tantiss...that takes place after Dark Empire and we all know that the darkside has a better gym. (Family Guy reference).

I can't even describe the sound I made on seeing that pic of Luke. It was somewhere between a hiss of surprise and a snort of laughter.

The way Jaina's been characterized since the end of NJO has slowly made me stop reading the books. The travesty that has been FotJ made me stop completely. And I hate Troy Denning's constant Kyp-bashing. Kyp isn't a sloppy, slovenly guy. All through the NJO, he was kind of a fashion plate and kept his hair styled (Black and curly, btw! Has been since JAT!) and then Denning has him sloppy, unshaved, with grey-streaked brown hair. Um. Since when? Grr.

. . . Sorry, really sore point with me.

I don't like Jag Fel, but other than a couple crackfics, I try to treat the character decently. It bugs the heck out of me when even the pros can't let a bias go.

Another peeve: when it's painfully obvious that the author greatly dislikes one of the characters in his/her story.

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This is probably my biggest peeve. I think it's inexcusable in profic, and it really irks me in fanfic. To me, if it's obvious the author doesn't like the character, that's an excellent indication they are writing that character OOC. If you can't write the character in character, don't use that character. An author choosing to write a story just to drag a particular character through the mud, really , really annoys me. I have a rule that if I strongly dislike the character, I generally don't include them in the story in any significant capacity. I'm currently writing a story that really needs a character I don't like to play a significant role. I plan to get a beta reader to check specifically that I'm doing that character justice.

I dunno, I fell in love with Luke because of his character, not that he was hot. I mean, yeah, I think he's super hot, but the way he is in the movies. *shrug*

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I fell in love with Movie Luke for that reason also. Movie Luke wasn't the romantic lead...so I could concentrate on his personality and character and it didn't matter what he looked like that much...but I have to admit he looked good in ESB.

But Fanfic Luke is often described in a fangirl idealistic way that I have come to prefer when reading romance. In romance fanfic they describe him as tone, fit, muscular, sexy no matter if he is 30 or if he is 63. I have never read a fanfic that says Luke was getting these cute little love handles, or described how when he hit 63 years of age his back started to get hairy. Maybe he got a little gut from drinking all those hot chocolates over the years, or maybe he has a receding hairline. No, we don't get a man who ages the way a majority of men on earth do. He is always described as in shape no matter what age. That is what L/M 'shippers want to read. Hell, if I want to visualize a typical middle age man, I can look in my bedroom where I will probably find my middle-age-man playing video games or watching HBO...although was doing something with a reciprocating saw in there this morning.

But Fanfic Luke is often described in a fangirl idealistic way that I have come to prefer when reading romance. In romance fanfic they describe him as tone, fit, muscular, sexy no matter if he is 30 or if he is 63. I have never read a fanfic that says Luke was getting these cute little love handles, or described how when he hit 63 years of age his back started to get hairy. Maybe he got a little gut from drinking all those hot chocolates over the years, or maybe he has a receding hairline. No, we don't get a man who ages the way a majority of men on earth do. He is always described as in shape no matter what age. That is what L/M 'shippers want to read. Hell, if I want to visualize a typical middle age man, I can look in my bedroom where I will probably find my middle-age-man playing video games or watching HBO...although was doing something with a reciprocating saw in there this morning.

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New pet peeve: when plot bunnies start nomming on my brain because of something said in the pet peeve thread

It does annoy me a bit how unrealistic people age in the GFFA in both profic and fanfic. I'm waiting for the day that Han mentions his knee replacement But this is excape fiction, what do you expect?

I must add, I think Luke's personality is what makes him so attractive to me. Not that I don't drool over the swamp scenes in ESB.

The aging thing is definitely an issue with non-Force users, but I've yet to see an example of a "decrepit" Jedi in the movies. Just look at Dooku, basic math says he must've been about 86 at the Battle of Geonosis. Yet he kicked Obi-Wan and Anakin's butts, and it seems like he only stopped because he had the pants beat off him by--Yoda, who was roughly eight hundred years older than him.